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vtl ' World  Facts 

and  the 

Extension  of  Christianity 

CORNELIUS  H.  PATTON 


Issued  by  the 

Committee  of  Reference  and  Counsel 

ol  the 

Foreign  Missions  Conference  of  North  America 

Canadian  Edition 

25  Madison  Avenue  New  York  City 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 
Columbia  University  Libraries 


https://archive.org/details/worldfactsOOpatt 


World  Facts 

and  the 

Extension  of  Christianity 

By  Cornelius  H.  Patton 


MISSIONARY  leaders  and  those  who 
study  the  currents  of  the  world’s  life 
from  the  standpoint  of  Christian  progress 
are  agreed  that,  as  a result  of  the  Great  War, 
we  have  swung  into  a new  and  distinct  era  in 
the  matter  of  extending  the  Christian  religion 
over  the  earth.  They  consider  it  imperative 
that  the  American  Churches,  appreciating  this 
fact,  should  assume  far  larger  responsibilities 
than  in  the  past,  that  they  should  stand  ready 
to  lead  off  in  the  sublime  task  of  establishing 
Christ’s  rule  over  the  nations.  The  facts  and 
considerations  underlying  this  conviction  are 
as  follows: 

1 . Intensified  Nationalism.  Throughout  the 
world  the  nations  are  coming  to  a fresh 
realization  of  their  destiny  and  power.  We 
are  witnessing  an  assertion  of  nationality  un- 
paralleled in  modern  times.  This  is  the 
mightiest  force  now  at  work  in  the  world,  next 
to  religion.  What  shall  be  the  relation  of  the 
two?  Is  nationalism  to  be  the  concentrated 
egotism  of  the  people?  Are  we  to  have 
“megalomaniac  nationalism,  a nationalism  made 
aggressive  by  prosperity,”  to  use  H.  G.  Wells’ 
challenging  phrase?  Or  can  we  have  a 


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World  Facts  and  the 


nationalism  which  recognizes  the  restraints  of 
liberty,  with  proper  regard  for  the  welfare  of 
other  states?  In  all  parts  of  the  world  people 
are  turning  to  democracy  for  self-realization, 
and  this  is  well,  since  democracy  is  the  political 
expression  of  Christ’s  doctrine  of  the  brother- 
hood of  man — every  man  counting  for  one 
because  God  made  him  one.  But  democracy 
is  working  out  badly  in  certain  sections  of  the 
earth.  Absurd  and  dangerous  views  of 
democracy  are  being  handed  to  backward 
peoples.  Horrible  crimes  are  being  committed 
in  its  name.  How  shall  we  make  democracy 
safe  and  sound?  It  is  for  the  Church  of 
God  to  say. 

2.  The  Unity  of  the  World.  Notwith- 
standing the  intensified  nationalism  of  our  time, 
the  world  is  one,  indisseverable.  To  the  unity 
of  creation  (“God  hath  made  of  one”)  is 
now  added  the  unity  of  socialization.  Steam 
and  electricity  have  so  bound  us  together  in 
a system  of  economic  and  social  interdependence 
that  there  is  no  escape.  Nationalism  cannot 
be  maintained  by  exclusiveness.  A policy  of 
isolation  is  as  futile  as  it  is  wrong.  The 
nations  are  an  organism  like  the  human 
body,  “and  the  eye  cannot  say  unto  the  hand, 
I have  no  need  of  thee.”  Internationalism  is 
the  completion  of  nationalism;  it  is  the  in- 
evitable organization  of  the  world’s  life  for 
the  ending  of  war,  for  mutual  protection  and 
service.  Said  a prominent  British  educator: 
“The  world  is  now  one  in  fact.  Untold 
miseries  and  catclysms  worse  far  than  that 
from  which  we  are  emerging,  lie  in  store  for 


Extension  of  Christianity 


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us,  unless  the  world  becomes  one  also  in  heart. 
The  hope  of  the  world  lies,  in  sober  truth, 
with  those  who  preach  peace  to  them  that  are 
afar  off  as  well  as  to  those  that  are  nigh.” 

3.  The  Recognition  of  Christianity  as  the 
Solution  of  the  World's  Woe.  Prominent 
statesmen,  educators,  journalists,  captains  of 
industry  unite  in  holding  that  the  Church, 
with  her  gospel  of  goodwill  and  brotherhood, 
is  the  only  hope  of  the  world.  Never  has  there 
been  such  a chorus  of  appeal  to  God’s  people 
to  get  together  and  to  get  busy  extending  the 
lines  of  Christian  influence  and  power.  This 
was  the  heart  of  that  great  appeal  of  Lloyd 
George  and  the  other  British  premiers  in  their 
New  Year’s  Day  message  to  the  British 
people  in  1921.  Said  Frank  A.  Vanderlip, 
upon  returning  from  Europe  recently,  “The 
fundamental  need  of  Europe  is  spiritual.”  By 
common  consent  the  greatest  utterance  coming 
out  of  the  war  was  the  dying  word  of  Edith 
Cavell,  “I  perceive  that  patriotism  is  not 
enough.”  Today  the  rulers  of  the  world  are 
saying,  “Patriotism  is  not  enough.” 

4.  The  Friendly  Attitude  of  Governments. 
Not  all  governments  are  cordial  towards 
Protestant  Christianity;  but  there  is  an  increas- 
ing number  of  powers,  great  and  small,  which 
look  to  the  Boards  of  the  Protestant  Churches 
to  aid  them  in  their  gigantic  task.  The  Georgian 
nation  has  let  it  be  known  that  they  must  have 
missionaries  and  missionary  institutions,  if  they 
are  ever  to  stand  alone.  The  Bulgarian 
Parliament,  at  the  instigation  of  the  King, 


World  Pacts  and  the 


urges  the  establishment  of  an  American  Protes- 
tant Christian  college  at  Sofia  for  the  training 
of  national  leaders.  The  Japanese  government 
is  deeply  concerned  over  the  problem  of 
religion  and  morals  as  a basis  of  national 
life,  and  encourages  as  not  before  the  service 
of  Christian  churches  and  schools  in  their 
midst.  Great  Britain,  long  the  friend  of  mis- 
sions, outdoes  herself  in  offering  aid  to  Christian 
schools  in  her  colonies  in  India  and  Africa, 
and  elsewhere.  The  American  government 
officials  in  the  Philippines  are  working  side 
by  side  with  the  missionaries  of  a dozen  boards. 
Church  and  State,  while  maintaining  separation, 
will  co-operate  increasingly  for  the  saving  of 
society.  “The  work  of  the  conference  is  the 
work  of  religion  and  of  the  church,”  said 
Prince  Tokugawa  at  the  Washington  Con- 
ference in  1921. 

5.  The  Netv  Status  of  the  Missionary. 
Under  these  highly  favorable  conditions,  the 
foreign  missionary  has  come  into  a new  status 
of  influence  and  prestige.  Increasingly  he  is 
recognized  as  a world  leader,  the  true  inter- 
nationalist, the  friend  of  civilization,  the  savior 
of  states.  As  Dr.  Percy  Dearmer,  of  London, 
expresses  it,  “In  a quite  definite  way  they 
(the  missionaries)  are  becoming  the  inner 
statesmen  of  the  new  world;  and  the  wisest 
rulers  and  administrators  nowadays  take  ample 
counsel  of  them.”  “Do  nothing  without  Peet,” 
cabled  the  United  States  Government  to 
Ambassador  Morgenthau  at  Constantinople, 
during  a critical  period  of  the  war,  Peet 
being  the  treasurer  of  the  American  Mission. 


Extension  of  Christianity 


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Prominent  Chinese  officials,  like  Governor  Yen 
of  Shansi,  statedly  consult  missionaries  as  to 
sanitation,  education,  and  questions  of  public 
policy.  After  decades  of  misunderstanding, 
criticism  and  sometimes  abuse  the  missionary 
is  coming  to  his  own. 

6.  God’s  Spirit  Is  Moving  upon  the  Masses. 
This  is  the  day  of  the  “mass  movement,”  by 
which  villages,  communities,  castes  as  a whole 
seek  admission  to  the  Church.  In  India  it  has 
reached  the  proportions  of  a tidal  wave.  The 
problem  is  not  how  to  make  converts  but  how 
to  care  for  the  multitudes  who  press  into  the 
Church.  Similar  movements  are  developing  in 
Africa,  certain  sections  of  China,  and  through- 
out Korea.  These  may  become  general  at 
any  time.  With  governments  favorable  and 
people  eager,  we  may  look  for  the  rapid 
progress  of  Christianity  in  the  riper  fields. 

7.  The  Broadening  of  the  Scope  of  Mis- 
sionary Work.  In  response  to  the  new  oppor- 
tunities and  demands,  missionaries  are  develop- 
ing new  lines  of  approach  and  helpfulness. 
They  preach  and  practice  a Christianity  for 
the  whole  man — body,  mind  and  spirit.  With 
moral  redemption  through  Christ  the  invariable 
goal,  they  find  new  channels  of  usefulness 
opening  on  every  side.  Medical  missions  are 
taking  on  tremendous  proportions.  Industrial 
and  agricultural  education  have  come  to  the 
front  as  immensely  useful,  also  athletics,  and 
all  forms  of  social  service.  This  is  a day  of 
good  works  of  many  kinds  converging  upon 
Him  who  came  “to  give  life  and  to  give  it 
abundantly.” 


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World  Facts  and  the 


8.  The  Tragedy  of  the  Near  East.  The 
element  of  tragedy,  present  in  all  ages  of  the 
Church,  has  become  exceedingly  prominent  in 
our  time.  Possibly  in  all  missionary  history 
there  has  been  no  such  disaster  as  we  have 
experienced  in  Persia  and  Turkey,  as  a 
result  of  the  fanaticism  of  the  Moslem,  stimu- 
lated by  the  Great  War.  Not  less  than  a 
million  and  a half  Armenian  Christians  have 
suffered  death  because  of  their  faith.  The 
names  of  hundreds  of  noble  pastors  and  teachers 
have  been  added  to  the  roll  of  martyrs. 
Churches,  schools,  colleges,  hospitals  lie  in 
ruins.  The  destruction  of  Smyrna  is  one  of 
the  world’s  greatest  calamities.  Today  the 
Church  of  Christ  is  faced  by  the  challenge  of 
disaster  as  well  as  of  success.  Undoubtedly 
our  faith  needs  the  urge  of  opposition,  and 
the  call  to  steadfastness  and  self-sacrifice.  The 
faith  of  Christendom  is  being  tested  “as  by 
fire.”  Do  we  believe  in  Christ?  Do  we 
believe  in  His  Church?  An  ancient  mosque 
in  Damascus  was  once  a Christian  Church. 
High  up  on  one  of  the  walls  there  remains  to 
this  day  the  inscription  in  Greek,  “Thy  King- 
dom, O Christ,  is  an  everlasting  Kingdom,  and 
thy  dominion  endureth  throughout  all  genera- 
tions.” Do  we  believe  that  prophecy?  Will 
we  help  make  it  true? 

9.  The  Eclipse  of  Europe.  We  can  no 
longer  count  upon  continental  Europe  to  assume 
any  considerable  part  in  the  evangelization  of 
the  world.  The  great  powers  of  the  continent 
are  bankrupt  and  broken.  Europe  has  become 
a liability  instead  of  an  asset.  England  alone 


Extension  of  Christianity 


9 


emerges  with  the  resources  and  the  will  to 
carry  on  in  the  great  business  of  the  Church. 
Christian  England  will  do  her  best  and  will 
be  a mighty  factor  in  the  future  as  in  the  past, 
but  to  prosperous  and  powerful  America  comes 
the  call  to  assume  the  heavy  end  of  the  load. 
Can  there  be  any  question  that  God  is  calling 
upon  us  to  lead  off  in  this  mighty  undertaking. 
Whatever  views  we  may  hold  as  to  our  govern- 
ment’s responsibility  toward  the  rest  of  the 
world,  the  Church  of  America  cannot  escape 
her  mandate  from  Almighty  God. 

10.  Protestantism  Presents  a Common 
Front.  The  task  is  stupendous.  One  thous- 
and million  people  remain  to  be  reached  with 
the  Christian  message.  The  powers  of  evil 
are  deeply  entrenched.  The  opposition  is  alert 
and  strong.  Clearly  this  is  no  time  for  Chris- 
tians to  pull  apart.  Under  the  stress  of  the 
world’s  need  and  the  urge  of  Christian  for- 
bearance and  love  the  Protestant  Mission 
Boards  of  Europe  and  America  have  drawn 
together  and  today  they  present  a common 
front.  Without  sacrificing  the  independence 
or  the  initiative  of  any,  by  means  of  national 
and  international  organizations  it  is  possible  to 
project  great  plans  and  to  dispose  our  forces 
for  the  largest  results.  Each  Board  today 
plans  its  work  in  the  light  of  the  whole  task 
and  with  reference  to  what  the  others  are 
doing.  Comity  prevails  in  the  matter  of  the 
occupation  of  territory;  certain  denominations 
are  asked  to  assume  responsibility  for  definite 
areas;  participation  in  a large  number  of  union 
enterprises,  especially  in  the  realm  of  higher 


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World  Pacts  and  the 


education,  insures  a balanced  and  effective 
presentation  of  the  message.  Native  Christians 
today  are  being  brought  together  in  hearty 
co-operation  and,  in  certain  lands,  in  organic 
unity.  In  the  older  and  better  occupied  fields 
Christianity  is  becoming  naturalized;  the  Church 
is  becoming  indigenous.  The  ideal,  long  held, 
of  “a  self-governing,  self-supporting,  self- 
propagating  native  church,”  is  being  realized 
under  conditions  of  great  promise.  No  longer 
does  the  missionary  bear  the  brunt  of  the  task; 
he  is  now  working  at  the  side  of  a devoted, 
aggressive  and  well  trained  body  of  native 
Christians.  In  every  department — evangelism, 
education,  medicine,  industrialism,  literature — 
the  undertaking  has  taken  on  tremendous  pro- 
portions. $40,000,000  was  expended  on  this 
work  in  1921.  This  is  the  most  far-reaching 
and  successful  enterprise  in  the  world.  It  is 
the  great  business  of  the  Church. 

What  the  Boards  Are  Asking 

Do  these  facts  indicate  that  the  Church  of 
Christ  is  entering  upon  a new  era  of  world 
operations?  Who  can  doubt  that  it  is  so, 
and  that  if  we  of  the  home  churches  are  alert 
and  faithful  it  will  be  an  era  of  rapid  progress, 
of  successes  more  extraordinary  than  history  has 
yet  shown. 

What,  then,  do  the  affiliated  mission  boards 
ask  of  the  people  of  the  churches? 

Four  Things 

1.  In  the  light  of  the  world  situation,  we  ask 
you  to  evaluate  the  work  anew,  to  con- 


Extension  of  Christianity 


11 


sider  its  paramount  importance  in  the  life 
of  the  world,  to  insist  that  foreign  mis- 
sions shall  not  be  crowded  off  into  a 
corner  and  given  the  crumbs  of  the 
Church’s  beneficence.  We  ask  you  to 
consider  it  the  business,  not  the  charity 
of  the  Church. 

2.  We  ask  you  to  consider  your  denomina- 
tional board  as  the  unit  among  the  forces 
of  the  Kingdom  which  has  a right  to  look 
to  you  for  loyal  and  generous  help.  Our 
plan  and  spirit  of  co-operation  are  such 
that  you  can  best  help  the  Kingdom  by 
helping  your  own  board.  See  to  it  that 
your  board  has  its  rightful  place  in  the 
program  of  your  local  church,  that  it  re- 
ceives its  appropriate  share  of  the  people’s 
gifts,  in  full  accord  with  the  system  of 
beneficence  adopted  by  your  denomination. 
See  to  it  that  the  people  know  of  this 
great  work,  and  learn  to  love  it  through 
systematic  study  of  its  fields  and  opera- 
tions. Read  and  circulate  missionary 
books  and  magazines. 

3.  In  case,  through  the  failure  of  your 
church  and  others  to  meet  their  responsi- 
bility, your  board  is  threatened  with  debt, 
stand  ready  at  the  end  of  the  year  to 
make  an  extra  gift  into  its  treasury.  Do 
all  that  is  asked  of  you  and  a little  more. 
Be  a second  mile  Christian. 

4.  We  ask  you  to  plan,  at  the  earliest  pos- 
sible moment,  as  God  prospers  you,  to 
make  an  investment  in  the  foreign  work  of 


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World  Pacts  and  the 


your  denomination.  Aside  from  your 
regular  help  through  the  Church,  look 
forward  to  the  day  when  you  can  sup- 
port your  own  missionary,  when  you  can 
erect  or  equip  a hospital,  build  a church, 
school,  residence  or,  by  some  other  method, 
of  which  the  officers  of  your  board  will 
tell  you,  make  your  impress  upon  the 
world’s  welfare  in  some  personal  and 
sizeable  way. 

In  a Word,  Become  a Capitalist  For  Christ. 


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